Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare, autosomal dominant multisystem disorder affecting the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and skin leading to significant morbidity and mortality. We report a case of TSC and highlight the need for prompt diagnosis and proper surveillance to minimize life‑threatening complications. A 20‑year‑old female presented with facial and ungual papulonodular lesions 4 years after being diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of eight. No family history of genetic diseases was reported. Eight years later, the patient developed recurrent cough, shortness of breath, and blurring of vision. Biopsy of facial and digital nodule showed angiofibroma and ungual fibroma (Koenen tumor), respectively. Chest computed tomography scan revealed extensive cystic lesions diffusely scattered throughout the entire lung parenchyma suggestive of lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Cranial MRI revealed cortical and subependymal tubers, compatible with TSC. The patient had multidisciplinary management. However, her symptoms progressed, and she eventually succumbed to death. Cutaneous lesions such as facial angiofibromas and ungual fibromas along with multisystemic manifestations should alarm the clinician to TSC. Given its highly variable expressivity, awareness of different TSC‑associated signs and symptoms is essential for prompt diagnosis, proper treatment, disease monitoring, and early recognition of TSC complications.
Angiofibroma ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; Tuberous Sclerosis

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare diffuse cystic lung disease. Knowledge on LAM-related pulmonary hypertension (PH) is limited. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of LAM with elevated pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and evaluate the potential efficacy of sirolimus. The study involved 50 LAM patients who underwent echocardiography. According to the tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV), these patients were divided into the TRV ⩽ 2.8 m/s group and TRV > 2.8 m/s group. Both groups comprised 25 females with an average age of 38.6 ± 8.1 and 41.5 ± 8.9 years. In the TRV > 2.8 m/s group, the estimated systolic PAP (SPAP) was significantly elevated (52.08 ± 12.45 mmHg vs. 30.24 ± 5.25 mmHg, P < 0.01). Linear analysis showed that SPAP was correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV), diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide, alveolar arterial oxygen gradient (PO), and 6 min walking distance (r =-0.392, -0.351, 0.450, and -0.591, respectively; P < 0.05), in which PO was a risk factor for SPAP elevation (β = 0.064, OR = 1.066, P < 0.05). Moreover, in 10 patients who received sirolimus therapy, SPAP decreased from 57.0 12.6 mmHg to 35.2 ± 11.1 mmHg. The study showed that LAM patients with PH exhibit poor pulmonary function and hypoxemia and may benefit from sirolimus treatment.
Adult ; Carbon Monoxide ; analysis ; Echocardiography ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Logistic Models ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Oxygen ; blood ; therapeutic use ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Sirolimus ; therapeutic use

Lung cysts are commonly seen on computed tomography (CT), and cystic lung diseases show a wide disease spectrum. Thus, correct diagnosis of cystic lung diseases is a challenge for radiologists. As the first diagnostic step, cysts should be distinguished from cavities, bullae, pneumatocele, emphysema, honeycombing, and cystic bronchiectasis. Second, cysts can be categorized as single/localized versus multiple/diffuse. Solitary/localized cysts include incidental cysts and congenital cystic diseases. Multiple/diffuse cysts can be further categorized according to the presence or absence of associated radiologic findings. Multiple/diffuse cysts without associated findings include lymphangioleiomyomatosis and Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome. Multiple/diffuse cysts may be associated with ground-glass opacity or small nodules. Multiple/diffuse cysts with nodules include Langerhans cell histiocytosis, cystic metastasis, and amyloidosis. Multiple/diffuse cysts with ground-glass opacity include pneumocystis pneumonia, desquamative interstitial pneumonia, and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia. This stepwise radiologic diagnostic approach can be helpful in reaching a correct diagnosis for various cystic lung diseases.
Amyloidosis ; Birt-Hogg-Dube Syndrome ; Bronchiectasis ; Diagnosis ; Emphysema ; Histiocytosis ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell ; Lung Diseases ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Lung ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis

Cystic lung disease (CLD) is a group of lung disorders characterized by the presence of multiple cysts, defined as air-filled lucencies or low-attenuating areas, bordered by a thin wall (usually < 2 mm). The recognition of CLDs has increased with the widespread use of computed tomography. This article addresses the mechanisms of cyst formation and the diagnostic approaches to CLDs. A number of assessment methods that can be used to confirm CLDs are discussed, including high-resolution computed tomography, pathologic approaches, and genetic/serologic markers, together with treatment modalities, including new therapeutic drugs currently being evaluated. The CLDs covered by this review are lymphangioleiomyomatosis, pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis, Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia/follicular bronchiolitis, and amyloidosis.
Amyloidosis ; Birt-Hogg-Dube Syndrome ; Bronchiolitis ; Diagnosis* ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell ; Lung Diseases* ; Lung* ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) refers to a family of mesenchymal neoplasms composed of angiomyolipomas, clear cell “sugar” tumors of the lung, and lymphangioleiomyomatoses. These tumors have a distinctive and common component of perivascular epithelioid cells that show an association with blood vessel walls and immunohistochemically display myomelanocytic differentiation. The unique neoplasms have been shown to have an expanded range through a variety of case reports, including visceral, intra-abdominal, soft tissue, and bone tumors. The retroperitoneum, abdominopelvic region, and uterus have been reported to be the most common sites. Most PEComas follow a benign course. However, reports of malignant PEComas are increasing. Many papers have described uterine PEComas, but to our knowledge, there have not yet been any reports of a malignant PEComa arising concomitant with another epithelial tumor and mesenchymal tumor. We report herein the case of a 67-year-old woman who experienced a malignant uterine PEComa infiltrating a preexisting intramural leiomyoma with synchronous well differentiated endometrial carcinoma and multiple liver and lung metastases.
Aged ; Angiomyolipoma ; Blood Vessels ; Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Epithelioid Cells ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasms* ; Uterus*

To improve the diagnosis and treatment for tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) with pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis, a retrospective analysis was performed based on the clinical data of 2 patients with such disease. Both of them have typical thin-walled cystic lesion throughout the lung field, renal angioleiomyolipoma, and various degrees of skin lesions. Central nervous system is involved in one patient. Lesions in the lung and kidney in one patient were improved significantly after 5 months of rapamycin treatment. The clinical phenotypes were diverse in TSC patients. The CT imaging showed typical characteristics when the lung was invaded by the tumor. When a patient was diagnosed as pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis, we should pay attention to the clinical screening of TSC. Rapamycin is an effective and safe treatment for this disease.
Humans ; Kidney ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberous Sclerosis

Angiomyolipoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; pathology ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; pathology

Angiomyolipoma ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; complications ; diagnostic imaging

Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; pathology ; Uterine Neoplasms ; pathology

BACKGROUND: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a slowly progressive neoplastic disease that predominantly affects females. Usually, LAM affects the lung; it can also affect extrapulmonary sites, such as the mediastinum, the retroperitoneum, or the lymph nodes, although these locations are rare. A localized form of LAM can manifest as extrapulmonary lesions; this form is referred to as extrapulmonary lymphangioleiomyoma (E-LAM). Due to the rare occurrence of E-LAM and its variable, atypical location, E-LAM is often difficult to diagnose. Herein, we report the clinicopathological information from four E-LAM cases, and also review previous articles investigating this disease. METHODS: Four patients with E-LAM were identified at the Samsung Medical Center (Seoul, Korea) from 1995 to 2012. All E-LAM lesions underwent surgical excision. RESULTS: All patients were females within the age range of 43 to 47 years. Two patients had para-aortic retroperitoneal masses, while the other two patients had pelvic lesions; two out of the four patients also had accompanying pulmonary LAM. In addition, no patient displayed any evidence of tuberous sclerosis. Histologically, two patients exhibited nuclear atypism with cytologic degeneration. CONCLUSIONS: E-LAM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with pelvic or para-aortic masses. We also conclude that further clinical and pathological evaluation is needed in patients with E-LAM and nuclear atypism.
Abdomen ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; Lymphangiomyoma* ; Mediastinum ; Pelvis ; Recurrence ; Tuberous Sclerosis